compass / circle
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compass
An instrument for drawing circles or measuring off distances, consisting of two arms that are movably connected at one end.
Für die Geometrie-Hausaufgabe brauchst du unbedingt einen Zirkel.
You absolutely need a compass for the geometry homework.
circle
A closed group of people who meet regularly and have shared interests, for example a literary or political circle.
Sie ist Mitglied in einem exklusiven Zirkel von Kunstsammlern.
She is a member of an exclusive circle of art collectors.
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'Zirkel' from the context. If it is about geometry, drawing, or school, the tool is meant. If the sentence is about a group of people with shared interests, it means the social circle.
Im Kunstunterricht haben wir gelernt, mit dem Zirkel perfekte Muster zu zeichnen.
In art class, we learned to draw perfect patterns with the compass.
When 'Zirkel' means the drawing instrument, it is often used with verbs like 'einen Kreis zeichnen' (to draw a circle), 'den Radius einstellen' (to set the radius), or 'den Zirkel einstechen' (to place the compass point).
Stell den Radius am Zirkel bitte auf fünf Zentimeter ein.
Please set the radius on the compass to five centimeters.
As a social group, 'Zirkel' (circle) is often combined with adjectives like 'exklusiv' (exclusive), 'literarisch' (literary), or 'politisch' (political). The phrase 'zum inneren Zirkel gehören' (to belong to the inner circle) is also very common.
Nur wenige Leute gehörten zum inneren Zirkel des Präsidenten.
Only a few people belonged to the president's inner circle.
The meaning as a 'Personengruppe' (group of people) is used more in a formal or elevated style. It often sounds more educated or exclusive.
Einmal im Monat kam der literarische Zirkel der Stadt zusammen.
Once a month, the city's literary circle came together.
circle / district
Kreis and Zirkel can both refer to a group with shared interests. Kreis is more general and can also mean someone's personal circle, while Zirkel usually refers to a smaller, close-knit group that meets regularly and in an organized way. Use Zirkel when this particular sense of closeness is important.
Zu ihrem literarischen Zirkel gehören Künstler aus verschiedenen Städten.
Artists from different cities belong to her literary circle.
Zu ihrem Kreis gehören Künstler aus verschiedenen Städten.
Artists from different cities belong to her circle.
